Fabricated metal ironing table



Oct. 16, 1956 R. c. PRUITT 2,766,537

FABRICATED METAL IRONING TABLE Filed Feb. 8, 1954 INVENTOR.

RODMAN C. PRUITT ATTORNEYS United States Patent Q FABRICATED METAL [RONING TABLE Rodman C. Pruitt, Seymour, Ind., assignor to Seymour Tool & Engineering Co., Inc., Seymour, Ind., a corporation of Indiana l i A Application February 8, 1954, Serial N 0. 408,663

4 Claims. (Cl. 38-123) This invention concerns metal top tables particularly adapted for use as ironing boards.

Although metal ironing boards are less subject than wooden boards to decay and warping, in order to remain on a competitive basis with comparable wooden boards which tend to be lighter in weight, the manufacturer of metal boards must provide sufficient bracing for the relatively thin sheet metal surfaces of the board while using a minimum of relatively heavy reinforcing members for that purpose. A board which combines longitudinal and lateral rigidity with the minimum number of bracing beams or ribs will enjoy the concomitant advantages of reduced cost of materials and lighter weight.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an ironing table which may be easily and inexpensively manufactured, is light in weight, and has a flat rigid top as desired for ironing purposes.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a table top structure formed from a unitary metal sheet and sheet metal reinforcing members which is sufficiently rigid both laterally and longitudinally for ironing purposes although requiring a minimum of material for fabrication.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a side view of a metal top ironing board constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a w'ew of the bottom of the board with the legs broken away;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2 with certain parts eliminated for the sake of clarity;

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged partial section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective of a portion of one of the reinforcing members.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is shown a metal top ironing board or table mounted on forward legs 12 and rear legs 13. These legs cross and are pivotally connected by a pin at 14. Forward legs 12 are pivoted at the rear of the board 10 about a pin 15. Rear legs 13 are connected at their upper ends by a pin 17, which is retained at variable distances from the nose portion of the board by a suitable latch mechanism indicated generally at 18, to adjust the height of the board by varying the spread of legs 12 and 13.

The metal top board or table generally indicated at 10 includes a flat sheet metal member divided into a generally rectangular central portion and a tapered nose portion 21. A bordering flange 22 which is integral with the sheet metal member depends substantially at right angles about the periphery of the board 10. Flange 22 is provided with a bead 24 which is formed inwardly toward the center of the board so as to be located Within the included angle between sheet metal portions 20, 21

and flange 22. To further stiffen this flange its marginal portion 25 is rolled back within the flange.

A pair of U-shaped channel members 26 and 27 extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the board beneath central portion 20 and nose portion 21 to provide increased longitudinal rigidity. Channel members 26 and 27 have outwardly extending flanges 28 and 29 respectively at their open tops. These channel members are fastened in position along the bottom of the board, as by spot welding flanges 28 and 29 thereto.

Lateral rigidity is imparted to the board by locating a series of hanger members 30, 31 and 32 in spaced relation longitudinally of the board. Each hanger member includes a flat metal strip portion 35 which extends entirely across the bottom of the board from the intersection of flange 22 and either central portion 20 or nose portion 21, beneath channel members 26 and 27, to the same intersection on the opposite side of the board. A flange 36 depends at substantially right angles from one edge of each strip 35 across the entire width of the board. Thus hangers 3t 31 and 32 provide L-shaped beams which extend entirely across the board.

To give further lateral strength to the board between the bordering flange 22 and the channel member 26 or 27 closest to it, second flanges 37 and 38 depend from strip 35 on the edge opposite from flange 36, and these second flanges extend only between bordering flange 22 and the nearest channel member 26 or 27. In effect, therefore, hangers 3t), 31 and 32 form U-shaped beams between the edge of the board and the channel member nearest to that edge but are of L-shape throughout their central portions as best seen in Fig. 5. The hangers and 31 also support a plate 39 which is welded thereto and carries the latch mechanism 18.

At the end of strip portion of each hanger is an end portion 40 which is an integral part of the strip and which extends downwardly substantially parallel to flange 22 from adjacent the intersection of the flange 22 with the central portion 2% or nose portion 21. These end portions 40 terminate adjacent the inner face of head 24 and are fastened to this bead, preferably by a spot weld. The depth of bead 24, the thicknessof end portions 40, and the depth of rolled marginal portion 25 are all correlated in such a way that the inner or exposed surface of end portions 4i and the inner surface of marginal portion 25 are substantially vertically aligned. With these parts so arranged protrusion of any rough or sharp edges underneath the board is practically eliminated.

With the construction of the present invention it has been found that a very rigid and stable metal ironing board can be fabricated from a minimum amount of sheet metal material. This results in both lighter weight and decreased expense. If desired the central portion 20 and nose portion 21 may be perforated in the manner indicated generally at 44. Such perforations will result in some further decrease of weight, and will also allow the bottom to breathe beneath the ironing pad, tending to prevent steam condensation between the pad and top of the board.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An ironing board comprising a fiat metal sheet member shaped to provide a generally rectangular central portion and a tapered nose portion, an integral bordering flange depending at substantially right angles from the periphery of said sheet member, means for stiffening said bordering flange including a marginal portion integral with the flange and formed substantially parallel thereto within the included angle between said bordering flange and said sheet member, a pair of U-shaped channel members located equally distant from the longitudinal axis of the board parallel to each other and extending beneath said central and nose portions so as to provide longitudinal bracing ribs, said channel members having outwardly extending flanges at their open tops, means fastening said outwardly extending flanges to said sheet member Within said bordering flange, and a plurality of hanger members arranged to extend entirely across the board in spaced relation longitudinally thereof, each of said hanger members including a flat metal strip portion fastened at each end to said bordering flange and bowed to pass over the bottoms of said bracing ribs, each of said hangers including also a flange projecting from one edge of said strip portion thereof along substantially the entire length of said strip portion and cooperating therewith to form an L-shaped beam extending entirely across the bottom of the board.

2. An ironing board comprising a flat metal sheet member shaped to provide a generally rectangular central portion and a tapered nose portion, an integral bordering flange depending at substantially right angles from the periphery of said sheet member, means for stiflening said bordering flange including a marginal portion integral with the flange and formed substantially parallel thereto and a bead formed inwardly of said flange, said marginal portion and said bead extending throughout the entire length of the flange and located within the included angle between said bordering flange and said sheet member, longitudinal bracing means including a pair of U-shaped channel members positioned equally distant from the longitudinal axis of the board and parallel to each other, said channel members having outwardly extending flanges at their open tops, means fastening said outwardly extending flanges to said sheet member in position beneath said central and nose portions Within said bordering flange, a plurality of hanger members arranged to extend entirely across the board in spaced relation longitudinally thereof, said hanger members including flat metal strips fastened at each end to said bead and bowed to pass over the bottoms of said channel members, and stiffening means for said hangers including a first flange projecting substantially normal to each strip along its entire length and a pair of second flanges projecting in the same direction as said first flange on the opposite side of the strip and extending from each end of the strip to the adjacent said channel member.

3. In a vertically adjustable ironing table, a sheet metal member having an integral bordering flange depending substantially normal to said sheet member about its entire periphery, stiffening means for said bordering flange including a bead on the inside of said flange extending along the entire length of said flange, a pair of U-shaped channel members having outwardly extending flanges at their open tops, means fastening said outwardly extending flanges to said sheet metal member within its said bordering flange parallel to and equally spaced from the longitudinal axis of the table, bracing means comprising a plurality of flat metal strips extending across the table in spaced relation longitudinally thereof and over the bottoms of said channel members to provide forward, middle, and rear hangers respectively, means on at least two of said hangers for securing an adjustable hinge to said table, means fastening both ends of each said hangers to said bead, and stiffening means for said hangers including a flange extending substantially at right angles from each strip across the entire width of the table.

4. An ironing table comprising a sheet metal memberhaving an integral bordering flange depending substantially normal to said sheet member about its entire periphery, said flange including an inwardly formed integral bead stiffening said flange, a pair of U-shaped channel members having outwardly extending flanges at their open tops, means fastening said outwardly extending flanges to said sheet metal member within its bordering flange parallel to and equally spaced from the longitudinal axis of the table, a plurality of flat metal strips extending across the table in spaced relation longitudinally thereof over the bottoms of the channel members to each side of the table adjacent the inner section of the sheet metal member and its integral bordering flange, end portions depending from said strips parallel to said bordering flange adjacent said bead, said flange having an outer marginal portion formed inwardly on itself to provide a smooth lower edge, and said marginal portion being spaced inwardly with respect to the remainder of said flange in predetermined proportional relation with said head and said end portions of said strips locating the exposed surfaces thereof and the inner surfaces of said end portions in substantial alignment to minimize sharp edge portions within said board.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

